QiLan Yancha "Wonderful Orchid" Wuyi Oolong Tea

An excellent thoroughly roasted oolong from the Wuyi mountains in the northwest of China's Fujian Province. The name QiLan translates to "Wonderful Orchid", and though it does have a noticeable floral overtone, brewing this tea over several steeps reveals layers and layers of subtle complexity, with nutty, earthen, and peppery notes appearing before alternately lingering and fading. Altogether it's complex and quite tasty, with warming qualities that make it especially well-suited for cooler nights and mornings.

The spring 2020 harvest, newly received, is the best QiLan we have tried. Fragrant and vibrant, with a lingering multi-layered aftertaste, this batch is a winner among Wuyi oolongs.

We recommend brewing this tea at near-boiling temperatures for 1-3 minutes if brewing western style. If brewing in a gaiwan, start with 15 seconds, adding time in successive steeps. It holds up well to repeated infusions and is good for 5-8 steeps depending on brewing method.